Are dosers a thing of the past?
These days, the concept of freshness has made its way to the top of the list. With so many shops grinding per order, does it make sense to use grinders that have dosers? As far as I can tell, the original intention of the doser was to give the option of pre-grinding coffee so it is ready for when the daily rush hits. This is now frowned upon. So, cons are aplenty: more spots for coffee oils to fester, bigger chance of serving old coffee, more to throw out when adjusting the grind...
Pros of having a doser?
What are your recommendations for doserless grinders?
Nuova Ricambi is now selling the Hey Cafe Zenith, available in doserless. I have tested it and it's definitely a contender (and has a great price). It utilizes the Mazzer burrs and motor but is made using cheap labor as far as I can tell. Worth it?
Pros of having a doser?
What are your recommendations for doserless grinders?
Nuova Ricambi is now selling the Hey Cafe Zenith, available in doserless. I have tested it and it's definitely a contender (and has a great price). It utilizes the Mazzer burrs and motor but is made using cheap labor as far as I can tell. Worth it?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jason Haeger on
-
It depends on who you ask, and what they have, and what their experience is, and what their thoughts on espresso preparation are, and etc..
A thing of the past? No.
On the way out? Perhaps.
-
Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on
-
There are a growing number of nice doserless grinders but I'm having trouble being very enthusiastic about them.
While they solve a number of issues, my concern lies with service and production. Yes, we grind to order and brush the doser regularly - but the main glory of the dosing grinder is the ability to grind and do something else while the shot is grinding, i.e. multitasking. It may take 5-7 seconds for the shot to grind, and in those few seconds, I can get quite a bit set up and done for the drink at hand. I value that ability over having to stand there, with portafilter in my hand, waiting for the grind.
YMMV.
-
Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on
-
I still think the biggest difference in shot quality is Conical burr Grinders. I also agree speed does not kill in a busy coffee shop. I worked at one for a long time. If you can afford them a Robur electronic by Mazzer is fast. Compak is coming out with a electronic version of the acclaimed WBC Conical burr grinder and it will be pretty fast and well priced. I do know when we had long lines and using a doser it was almost grinding constantly when we were busy. But I do know if I go to a shop and they are not busy and I see a lot of grinds in the doser I get kinda turned off.
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Bedwell on
-
Relatively new home barista here. I brought a Mazzer Super Jolly home to try it out initially and took it back after just one evening. Too much waste and mess for my liking. I made the right decision to buy the Mahlkonig K30 Vario. The only waste that you have with it is the coffee stuck in the chute. It is quiet, quick and dispenses the same volume dose time after time.
-
Permalink Reply by Fraser Jamieson on
-
Myself, I like the idea behind each of the two different design concepts and I hope that the manufacturers continue to offer a choice.
On the 10th of December, I took delivery of a new Compak K10 Timer/Doserless and I am very happy with it. Yes, there can be some soft clumping, but no, it doesn't cause me any problems. My standard techniques developed while using an Azkoyen Doserless have proven to work. There is almost zero waste if you hold the portafilter up to the chute as opposed to letting it sit on the forks.
As an experiment, I formed a long chute to allow the coffee to drop all the way to the drip tray before entering the portafilter. No clumping at all. The long drop broke up the clumps. After speaking with Compak USA they have informed me that an optional de-clumping cone may follow shortly.
Normally, I pour milk with my right hand while I dose with my left, so the idea of a doserless appeals to me. For decaf, I'm using a Compak K3 with a doser. By the time I've poured my milk the K3 is no where near finished grinding so it's not a fair comparison. The K3 is a home machine.
One of my favourite baristas in Toronto likes doser grinders and he's pulling shots which prove he knows what he's talking about. Choice is a good thing.
-
Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on
-
I actually just like thwacking a doser arm/lever/whatever. Something about it is so natural to me. I've worked (not for extended periods of time, however) with both styles and I still like my dosers...
Old school? Dunno... I think I'm too new to the industry to be considered old school about anything, but I sure do like me some doser thwackin'.
-bry
-
-
It's one of those comforting sounds if you are on the other side of the counter. It means the coffee isn't pre-ground, and there is a chance that the baristas know what they are doing.
Bryan Wray said:I actually just like thwacking a doser arm/lever/whatever. Something about it is so natural to me. I've worked (not for extended periods of time, however) with both styles and I still like my dosers...
Old school? Dunno... I think I'm too new to the industry to be considered old school about anything, but I sure do like me some doser thwackin'.
-bry
-
Permalink Reply by Espresso Rescue on
-
Are there any brands of doserless grinders that have a holder or platform for the PF so you dont have to stand there and hold it? Seems like that plus some kind of anti-clumping device would be perfect! I've tried a Mazzer Mini doserless that's been moded and it shoots the coffee out too fast.
Jay, I understand about the thwacking..goes along with knocking the PF.Just don't know if those simple pleasures are worth the "cons" of the doser. Hm.
Jay Caragay said:There are a growing number of nice doserless grinders but I'm having trouble being very enthusiastic about them.
While they solve a number of issues, my concern lies with service and production. Yes, we grind to order and brush the doser regularly - but the main glory of the dosing grinder is the ability to grind and do something else while the shot is grinding, i.e. multitasking. It may take 5-7 seconds for the shot to grind, and in those few seconds, I can get quite a bit set up and done for the drink at hand. I value that ability over having to stand there, with portafilter in my hand, waiting for the grind.
YMMV.
-
Permalink Reply by Jared Rutledge on
-
i have both a compak k-10 WBC and k-10 doserless (non-timed). we use the doserless for decaf, and it works well but I find the waste a bit alarming. i also have to purge the chute if i haven't ground a decaf shot in a while. the wbc k-10, on the other hand, is a champion and we rarely waste coffee or have it sit in the doser. i thought i'd like the doserless more but thus far that hasn't proved to be the case.
-
Permalink Reply by Chris on
-
Espresso Rescue said:Are there any brands of doserless grinders that have a holder or platform for the PF so you dont have to stand there and hold it? Seems like that plus some kind of anti-clumping device would be perfect!
Well, the Versalab M3 has the doser up-stream of the flat/conical burrs, and the straight through design is an anti-clumping device, I guess, and it does have an accessory PF holder. The only real issue with them (I'm guessing) is the not-ready-for-prime-time source. It kinda is a guy in his garage feel to it, and the grinders don't seem to be commercially strong. I've seen one used in a shop environment, and the results were pretty darned nice, but the last time I went it there was a Robur E in it's place. So much for that...
Oh, and Jason, yo meant that the grinder noise is the comforting noise, yeah? I hear the thwacking without the grinding (unless it's a completely slammed, one after another crowd around the counter) and I've suddenly got better things to do... ; >
-
-
Yeah, but I always hear the thwacking first. Thwacking at that speed cannot be done with a full doser without ending up with a pile of ground coffee on the counter top.
That having been said, the sound of the grinder AND thwacking make me happy. The sound of the grinder without thwacking causes me to stress out. Whoa be to the barista who grinds and does not thwack in my presence. (figuratively speaking, of course)
Chris said:Espresso Rescue said:Are there any brands of doserless grinders that have a holder or platform for the PF so you dont have to stand there and hold it? Seems like that plus some kind of anti-clumping device would be perfect!
Well, the Versalab M3 has the doser up-stream of the flat/conical burrs, and the straight through design is an anti-clumping device, I guess, and it does have an accessory PF holder. The only real issue with them (I'm guessing) is the not-ready-for-prime-time source. It kinda is a guy in his garage feel to it, and the grinders don't seem to be commercially strong. I've seen one used in a shop environment, and the results were pretty darned nice, but the last time I went it there was a Robur E in it's place. So much for that...
Oh, and Jason, yo meant that the grinder noise is the comforting noise, yeah? I hear the thwacking without the grinding (unless it's a completely slammed, one after another crowd around the counter) and I've suddenly got better things to do... ; >
-
Permalink Reply by Matthew Gasaway on
-
I just wanted to add one thing.
Depending on your style of dosing and redistribution( or no redistribution), you can develop a way of having minimal coffee waste.
So I can't say I would agree on having more coffee waste. I think it's the same.
If you're into a technique the involves using more coffee, only then to sweep off some with you fingers, then yes more waste.
We all have our ways of doing things.
Barista Exchange Partners
Barista Exchange Friends
Keep Barista Exchange Free
Are you enjoying Barista Exchange? Is it helping you promote your business and helping you network in this great industry? Donate today to keep it free to all members. Supporters can join the "Supporters Group" with a donation. Thanks!
© 2024 Created by Matt Milletto.
Powered by
